Give Stress the Soft Touch

If your worries are following you around like a long afternoon shadow, here's a fun way to give them the slip:

Spend 30 minutes cuddling on the couch tonight. Research shows that physical affection can help lower stress levels.

Happy Half-Hour In a small 4-week study, healthy married couples that regularly held hands, massaged each other, and cuddled for 30 minutes at least four times a week showed significant changes in physiological systems associated with stress. Their saliva showed more antistress hormones as well as lower levels of enzymes associated with stress, compared with that of noncuddlers. Don't have a significant other? Snuggle with your kitty or your pup. Time with pets is a great calm-inducer, too.

It is not uncommon for people to experience stress and anxiety during select periods in their lives. Having a positive attitude, taking a balanced approach to life's ups and downs, and using relaxation exercises are just some of the ways that people can alleviate stress and anxiety.